Rotary selector switch with rotary contact carrier and means to convert between diferent numbers of circuit controlling positions thereof



Jan. 26, 1965 J YsER T 3,167,620

ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCR WITH ROTARY CONTACT CARRIER AND MEANS T0 CONVERT BETWEEN DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF CIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSITIONS THEREOF Filed Nov. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/Glf 0 O EI I I I I I I i //v vE/v 70/?5: JoH/v E/(EYSER, R0 Y E. WHEEL ER,

y QW 7:7,

ATTORNEY.

J n- 1965 J. E. KEYSER ETAL 3,167,620

ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCH WITH ROTARY CONTACT CARRIER AND MEANS TO CONVERT BETWEEN DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF CIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSITIONS THEREOF Filed Nov. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEN TORS.

JOHN E KEYSE, Roy E. WHEELli/w',

BY 1- M- ATTORNEY.

United States Patent RGTARY SELECTOR SWITCH WITH ROTARY (IGN- TAQT CAPll-QEER AND MEANS T0 CONVERT EE- TWEEN DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF CIRCUIT CQNTRULIJING PGSITIONS THEREOF John E. Keyser, ioomington, and Roy E. Wheeler,

Champaign, Ill., assignors to General Electric 6on1- pany, a corporation of New York Fitted Nov. 13, 1962, fier. No. 237,098 '13 Claims. (Cl. 200-11) This invention relates to electric switches and has particular relation to rotary selector switches.

Rotary selector switches generally include a rotatable contact carrier having a movable contact which is rotatable relative to a plurality of fixed contacts between a number of circuit controlling positions. The circuit controlling positions typically include a position wherein the movable contact is spaced from a pair of fixed contacts, and one or more positions in each of which the movable contact engages a pair of fixed contacts, the number of circuit controlling positions provided depending upon the particular application of the switch. In switches of this type it is desirable that provision be made for permitting rapid conversion of the number of circuit controlling positions between which the contact carrier is rotatable.

1n rotary selector switches it is also desirable to provide means which gives positive and effective engagement between the movable and fixed contacts for a large number of switch operations. A further desirable feature in rotary selector switches is the provision of means providing a positive feel indicating to an operator that he has rotated the contact carrier to a particular circuit controlling position. It is also desirable that the movable contact be moved into engagement with the fixed contacts with a snap action. Rotary selector switches of previous design which incorporate certain of the above desirable features have not been entirely satisfactory inasmuch as they involve a large number of com plex and comparatively expensive parts which cannot be readily assembled and disassembled relative to one another.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved rotary selector switch comprised of a minimum number of inexpensive parts which are readily assembled and disassembled with respect to one another.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel and improved rotary selector switch including means permitting rapid conversion between different numbers of circuit controlling positions through which the movable contact carrier is rotatable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved rotary selector switch having provision for providing a positive feel to an operator during rotation of the movable contact from one circuit controlling position to another circuit controlling position.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a novel and improved rotary selector switch having means providing reliable and effective snap action en gagement between the movable and fixed contacts.

In carrying out the invention in one form there is provided a rotary selector switch including an insulating housing comprised of a base and a cover for detachable mounting to the base. The base rotatably mounts a contact carrier which includes a movable contact rotatable relative to a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the base. The fixed contacts are arranged to establish a pair of circuits and the movable contact is movable between a selected number of angularly spaced positions wherein the movable contact engages certain of the fixed contacts and wherein the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contacts to provide an off position. The contact carrier is mountable by the base in two different positions which are spaced angularly by about the axis of the carrier and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contacts. When the contact carrier is in one mounted position a three position switch is provided, and when the carrier is in the other mounted position a two position switch is provided. For this purpose cooperating interfering parts are provided on the contact carrier and on the base which prevent rotation of the contact carrier to one circuit controlling position when the carrier is in one of its mounted positions, and which permit rotation of the carrier to such circuit controlling position when the carrier is in the other of its mounted positions. I

Resilient means are provided to bias the contact carrier in an axial direction so that the movable contact is pressed firmly against the fixed contacts when in engagement with the fixed contacts. The resilient means cooperates with cam means formed on the base and engaged by the movable contact during rotation thereof so as to provide a positive feel to an operator during actuation of the switch, and also to provide engagement of the fixed and movable contacts with a snap action. The fixed contacts include deflectable parts engageable by the movable contact which contributes to a very effective contact making action.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of a switch constructed according to the invention and mounted on a supporting panel;

FIG. 2 is a view in front elevation of the switch of FIG. 1 with the legend plate thereof removed showing in particular the contact carrier in one of its two mounted positions providing a three position switch;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the cover of the switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the base of the switch of FIG. 1 showing in particular the fixed and movable contacts;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 but with the actuating handle in a different position than shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view in section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the contact carrier in the other of its two mounted positions to provide a two position switch.

Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a rotary selector switch 10 including a two part insulating housing comprised of a base 11 and a cover 12 detachably mounted on the base 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the switch It) is illustrated in the form of a three position switch and is readily convertible in accord with the invention to a two position switch as will appear hereinafter. The switch 10 is mounted on a supporting panel 13 by means of screws 14 extending through the panel and through parts of the base 11.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the switch 10 includes generally a rotatable contact carrier 15 which carries a movable contact 16 for cooperation with a plurality of fixed contacts 17-19 detachably mounted on the base 11. In FIG. 5 the cover 12 is illustrated attached to the base 11 at the right hand side thereof to enclose the fixed contacts 17-19. In the illustrated embodiment the fixed contacts 1719 are arranged to establish two circuits having a common conductor, and it is understood that the invention is applicable to switches having a greater or lesser number of circuits.

3 More specifically; the contact carrier '15 includes an actuating handle having an insulating projection 21 extending freely through an opening 22 formed in a legend plate 23 which is detachably secured to one side of the base 11 by screws 24 (FIG. I). The projection 21 extends into a cavity 25 formed in the base 11 and the open end of which is closed by the legend plate 23. The projection 21 includes a socket 26 of generally square cross section adapted to receive an extension 27 of corresponding cross section and formed at one end of an insulating stem 28 to which the movable contact 36 is detachably mounted as will presently appear. By means of the interfltting socket 26 and extension 27, the handle it and the stem 28 are detachably mounted to permit ready assembly and disassembly of these parts with respect to each other and to permit rotation of these parts as a unit. In order to mount the actuating handle 2t for rotation about the axis of the projection 21 to thereby effect corresponding rotation of the stem 28 and contact 16, the projec- 7 tion 21 has fixed thereto a generally circular ring 29 of greater diameter than the opening 22 in the plate 23 and on the opposite side of the plate 23 from the handle 20. With such arrangement a complete unit is provided including the handle 20, the projection 21 and the plate 23, the handle 2%) being mounted on the base 11 for rotation relative to the base through the agency of plate 23.

In the present invention the contact carrier 15 is biased in an axial direction toward the front side of the device which is toward the left as viewed in FIG. 5 so that the contact 16 is urged into firm contact with the fixed contacts when the movable and fixed contacts are engaged. For this purpose the stem 28 is formed with an annular collar 30 at its left hand end against which bears one end of a helical spring 31 the other end of which engages the bottom wall of the cavity 25. The stem 28 projects through a restricted opening 32 formed in the base 11 and communicating with the enlarged cavity 25, the opening 32 having an open end at the right hand side of the base 11 as viewed in FIG. 5. The contact carrier 15 is maintained in an operative position relative to the base and the spring 31 is retained in compression by engagement of the contact 16 and parts on the base as will presently appear.

As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the movable contact 16 is in the form of a cylindrical electroconductive wire or red and is detachably received within a circular passage 33 extending entirely through the stem 28 transversely thereof. As illustrated in FIG. 4 the passage 33 includes a side wall formed with ribs 34 adapted to be received with a snap action within a peripheral groove 35 formed substantially at the center of the contact 16. To facilitate installation and removal of the contact 16 relative to the passage 33 the stem 28 is axially split as indicated by a slot 36 which extends through the passage 33 for a short distance longitudinally of the stem. As best shown in FIG. 4, the contact 16 overlies the open end of the opening 32 and projects beyond such open end to maintain compression of spring 31 and to prevent axial displacement of the carrier 15 relative ot the base toward the left as viewed in FIG. 5. The contact 16 is urged toward the surface 46 of the base ill by the expansion force of the spring 31. The movable contact structure per se forms no part of the present invention and is disclosed and claimed in application S.N. 236,255' filed November 8, 1962, by Keyser et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The cover 12 includes an enlarged recess 41 which, when the cover 12 is attached to the base 11 at the rear surface 40 thereof, forms a pocket with the surface 49 which houses the fixed contacts 17-153 and the movable contact 16. The recess 41 has a bottom wall 42 from which the free end of the stem 23 is spaced when the contact 16 is in any one of its circuit controlling positions. It is noted with reference to FIG. 5 that the rear surface 40 faces away from the front side of the device at which the handle Ztl is located.

The fixed contacts 17-19 are of substantially identical construction and are mounted by the base ii at the surface 4%? thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 the fixed contacts 174% are positioned respectively in recesses 45-47 of the base surface Each of the fixed contacts is comprised of a generally fiat plate Sil formed of electroconductive material and including a pair of projections 51 extending with a light press fit into a pair of slots 52 formed in the surface 49 of the base. The plate 5 also is formed with a pair of extensions 53 projecting in directions opposite to the direction of extension of the projections 51 to provide finger grips for permitting ready installation and removal of the contacts relative to the base. The plate 5% is also formed with a pair of spaced legs 54 which lie beneath a pair of defiectable resilient legs 55 formed on a thin generally fiat electroconductive plate 56 which overlies the plate 5t? and which constitutes a part of the fixed contact. As best shown in FIG. 6 the defiectable legs 55 of the plate 56 are displaced out of the plane of the plate 56 for deflection toward the plate 5% in response to engagement of the movable contact 16 with the legs 55. The plates 5%) and se of each fixedcontact are secured together as a unit by means of a terminal,

screw 57 which extends through an opening of the plate 56 and through a threaded opening of the plate 59 into a cavity (not shown) formed in the base 11.

The fixed contacts 17-19 are arranged in the illustrated embodiment to establish two circuits having a common conductor. For this purpose the contacts 13 and 19 are disposed on the right hand side of the stem 23 as viewed in FIG. 4 with the legs 55 of the associated plates 56 extending towards one another, and the contact i7 is positioned on the opposite side of the stem 28 with the legs 55 of its plate 55 extending toward the contacts 13 and 1%. An electric conductor as is electrically connected to each of the fixed contacts so that the contacts 17 and 18 are included in one circuit and the contacts 17 and 19 are included in the other circuit with the contact 1? being the common contact. In FIG. 4 the three possible positions of the contact 16 are shown. The contact 16 is shown in full lines in a first position wherein it engages defiectable legs 55 of the contacts 17 and 19. The contact 16 is also shown in FIG. 4 in dashed lines in a second position wherein the contact 16 extends vertically and is out of engagement with the fixed contacts to provide an off position. The contact 36 is also illustrated in dashed lines in a third position wherein the contact in engages legs 55 of the contacts 17 and 13.

In order to provide a positive feel to an operator of the switching action and also to provide snap engagement of the movable and fixed contacts, the switch in the present invention is provided with a plurality of cams 62-65 (FIG. 4) located on the surface of the base for cooperation with the movable contact 36. The cams are disposed angnlarly about the open end of the opening 32 and are of generally triangular configuration including respectively high areas 56-69 at their centers and sloping surfaces which taper downwardly from the high areas at opposite sides thereof to the surface 46 The high areas 66-6@ of the cams are located midway between the adjacent circuit controlling positions of the contact whereas the low areas at the ends of the sloping cam surfaces and between adjacent cams define the circuit control ing positions.

To illustrate the functioning of the earns 62-65, let it be assumed that the contact 16 is in its vertical off position as represented by the dashed lines in PEG. 4 and that it is desired to rotate the contact 16 to the circuit controlling position wherein the contact to engages fixed contacts 37 and To accomplish this, the handle 2@ is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 which effects counterclockwies rotation of contact 16 in FIG. 4 with the initial result the ends of the contact 16 ride up the adjacent sloping surfaces of the earns 62 and 64 respectively. This effects axial movement of the stem 28 from its illustrated position towards the right as viewed in FIG. 5 relative to the projection 21 with resultant compression of the spring 31. An increasing turning force is required to effect compression of spring 31. When the ends of the contact 16 are at the high spots 66 and 68 of the earns 62 and 64, the stem 28 is axially displaced to its maximum extent and the spring 31 is compressed to its maximum compression. Continued rotation of handle 20 causes the ends of contact 16 to ride down the adjacent sloping surfaces of earns 62 and 64 with resultant axial movement of stem 28 back to its position illustrated in FIG. 5 permitting expansion of spring 31 which both decreases the turning force required to move contact 16 and also effects a snap movement of contact 16 into engagement with the adjacent defiectable legs 55 of the contacts 17 and 19.

The present invention also provides a rotary selector switch having means permitting rapid conversion of the number of circuit controlling positions of the switch from one number to another. In the illustrated embodiment the switch it is arranged to be converted between two and three circuit controlling positions, the contact 16 in the three position arrangement being rotatable between an oif position and two circuit making positions, and the contact 16 in the two position arrangement being rotatable only between an off position and one circuit making position. To permit such conversion the contactwcarrier 16 is mountable by the base 11 in either of two different positions which are spaced angularly by 180 about the axis of the carrier and in each of which the contact 16 is in an ofif position. The number of circuit controlling positions is established by means of a pair of cooperating interfering parts formed respectively on the contact carrier and on the housing which, when engaged, prevent rotation of the contact carrier in a predetermined direction. In the illustrated embodiment the cooperating interfering parts are shown in FIG. 5 as comprising a radial projection 70 on the side of the stem 28 and an arcuate projection 71 upstanding from the base of the opening 25.

In FIGS. 2 and 4 the switch is shown in its three position arrangement wherein the contact carrier is mounted in one of its two mountable positions with the contact 16 extending vertically in an off position. For this position of the carrier it is noted that the projections 70 and 71 are angularly spaced by an amount sufiicient to allow rotation of the contact 16 in either direction from its off position into engagement with the contacts 17 and 18 and 17 and 19. To convert the switch from the three position arrangement of FIG. 2 to the two position arrangement of FIG. 7 it is only necessary to position the cont-act carrier in its second mounting position relative to the base which merely involves rotating the contact carrier through an angle of 180 to turn the contact 16 end for end. This is accomplished by removing the legend plate 23 and the handle 20 carried thereby from the base to expose the slotted end of the projection 27 of the stem 23. A suitable tool is inserted in the slotted end of projection 27 and the projection 27 is depressed against the bias exerted by spring 31 to move the contact 16 towards the right as viewed in FIG. 5 away from the cams to allow rotation of the stem 23 and contact 16. Such rotation is then effected through an angle of 180 which results in rotation of the projection 70 from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 7. The legend plate 23, or a similar plate having a two position legend thereon, is then mounted on the base with the handle 20 indicating an otf position as shown in FIG. 1. The contact 16 can now be rotated from its off position as shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 7 in a clockwise direction to a position wherein it engages contacts 17 and 19. However, the contact 16 cannot be rotated in a counterclockwise direction from its off position inasmuch as the projection 79 will engage projection 71 to prevent such rotation.

The base 11 is formed with a pair of stop projections 75 and 76 (FIG. 4) at diametrically opposed areas adjacent the open end of the opening 32. The contact 16 is engageable with these projections to limit movement of the contact 16 through an arc of approximately While we have shown and described particular embodiments of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from our invention in its broader aspects and we, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the housing, contact carrier mounted on the housing for rotation about an axis relative to the housing and including a movable contact for cooperation with said fixed contacts, said contact carrier being selectively mountable on said housing in either of two positions which are angularly spaced about said axis, and cooperating interfering parts on said contact carrier and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of said contact carrier about said axis relative to said housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact carrier is mounted in a first one of said two positions the con tact carrier is rotatable about said axis from said first position in said one direction to a circuit controlling position angularly spaced from said first position, and when said contact carrier is mounted in the second one of said two positions, the contact carrier is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts.

2. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on said housing, a contact carrier mounted on said housing for rotation about an axis relative to said housing and including a movable contact for cooperation with said fixed contacts, said contact carrier being selectively mountable on said housing in either of two positions which are angularly spaced about said axis by approximately and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from said fixed contacts, and cooperating interfering parts on said contact carrier and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of said contact carrier about said axis relative do said housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact carrier is mounted in the first of said two positions the contact carrier is rotatable about said axis from said first position in either of two opposite directions to spaced circuit making positions wherein the movable contact engages a pair of fixed contacts, and when the contact carrier is mounted in the second of said two positions the contact carrier is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts.

3. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having a front side and having a rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the rear surface of said housing, a movable contact assembly mounted on the housing for rotation from said front side about an axis extending generally perpendicular to said rear surface, said contact assembly including a movable contact overlying said rear surface and rotatable relative to the fixed contacts about said axis between a plurality of circuit controlling positions, resilient means acting between the contact assembly and the housing to bias the contact assembly in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact into firm contact with the fixed contacts when the contacts are engaged, and cam means on the housing engageable by 1 the movable contact assembly to compress the resilient means during rotation of the movable contact from one position to another and to permit expansion of the resilient means as the movable contact approaches a fixed contact.

4. A switch as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said fixed contacts has a deflectabie portion engageable by the movable contact.

5. A switch as defined in claim 3 wherein the housing includes a recess extending therethrough and opening at said rearisurface, said contact assembl including'a'stem extending through said recess in the housing, said movable contact comprising an electro-conductive member detachably mounted on the stem and extending perpendicular thereto to overlie the open end of the recess at said rear surface for preventing detachment of the contact assembly from the housing.

6. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having a front side and having a rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the housing, at said rear surface, a movable contact assem ly mounted on the housing for rotation from said front side about an axis perpendicular to said rear surface, said carrier assembly including a movable contact overlying said rear surface for cooperation with said fixed contacts, said contact assembly being selectively mountable on said housing in either of two positions spaced angularly about said axis positions, co-operating interfering parts on said contact assembly and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of said contact assent bly about said axis relative to said housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact assembly is mounted in a first one of said two positions the contact assembly is rotatable about said axis from said first position in said one direction to a circuit controlling position angularly spaced from said first position, and when said contact assembly is mounted in the second one of said two positions, the contact assembly is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, resilient means biasing the contact assembly in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact into firm contact with the fixed contacts when the contacts are engaged, and cam means on the housing engageable by the movable contact assembly to compress the resilient means during rotation of the movable contact about said axis from one position to another and to permit expansion of the resilient means as the movable contact approaches a circuit controlling position.

7. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having an opening extending therethrough between a front side of the housing and a rear surface of the housing which faces away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the rear surface of said housing, a contact carrier mounted on the housing for rotation from said front side about the axis of the opening and including a stem extending through said opening beyond said rear surface of said housing and including an actuating member detachably mounted on the stem at the front side of said housing, a movable contact comprising an electroconductive member detachably mounted on the stem to extend transversely thereof across the open end of said opening at said rear surface of the housing, resilient means biasing the contact carrier in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact against said rear surface of the housing, said contact carrier being selectively mountable in either of two positions which are spaced angularly by 180 and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contacts, cooperating interfering parts on said contact carrier and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of the contact carrier about said axis relative to the housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact carrier is mounted in a first one 8 r of said two positions the contact carrier is rotatable about said axis from said first position in either of two opposite directions to spaced circuit making positions wherein the movable contact engages a pair of fixed contacts, and whenthe contact carrier is mounted in the second of said two positions the contact carrier is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction-from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, and cam means on said rear surface of the housing engageable by the movable contact to compress the resilient means durlng rotation of the movable contact from any one circuit controlling position to the adjacent circuit controlling position and to permit expansion of the resilient means as the movable contact approaches the adjacent circuit controlling position.

8. A switch as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said fixed contacts includes a deflectable part engageable by said movable contact.

9. A switch as defined in claim 7 including a legend plate detachably mounted on said housing, said contact carrier including an actuator detachably mounted on said stem and mounted for rotation by said legend plate relative to the legend plate.

10. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having a front side and having a rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the housing at the rear surface thereof, a movable contact assembly mounted on the housing for rotation from said front side about an axis perpendicular to said rear surface, said contact assembly including a movable contact overlying the rear surface of the housing for cooperation with said fixed contacts, said contact assembly being selectively mountable on said housing in either of two positions which are spaced angularly about said axis and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from said fixed contacts, cooperating interfering parts on said contact assembly and on said housing effective when er:- gagcd to prevent rotation of said contact assembly about said axis relative to said housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact assembly is mounted in a first one of said two positions, the contact assembly is rotatable about said axis from said first position in said one direction to a circuit controlling position angularly spaced from said first position, and when said contact assembly is mounted in the second one'of said two positions, the contact assembly is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, and resilient means biasing the contact assembly in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact into firm contact with the fixed contacts when the contacts are engaged.

11. in a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having a front side and having a rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the housing at the rear surface thereof, a movable contact assembly mounted on the housing for rotation from said front side about an axis perpendicular to said rear surface, said contact assembly including a movable contact overlying the rear surface of the housing for cooperation with said fixed contacts, said contact assembly being selectively mountable on said housing in either of two positions which are spaced angularly about said axis and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from said fixed contacts, cooperating interfering parts on said contact assembly and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of said contact assembly about said axis relative to said housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact assembly is mounted in a first one of said two positions, the contact assembly is rotatable about said axis from said first position in said one direction to a circuit controlling position angularly spaced from said first position, and when said contact assembly is mounted in the second one of said two positions, the Contact assembly is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, and resilient means biasing the contact assembly in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact into firm contact with the fixed contacts when the contacts are engaged, said contact assembly when mounted in one of said two positions being remounted in the other of said two positions by axial depression thereof against the bias of said resilient means followed by rotation thereof through an angle to said other position without disassembly of said contact assembly from said housing.

12. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having an Opening extending therethrough between a front side of the housing and a rear surface of the housing, said rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the rear surface of said housing, a contact carrier mounted on the housing for rotation about the axis of said opening and including a stem extending through said opening beyond said rear surface of said housing, an actuating member detachably mounted on the stem at the front side of said housing, a movable contact comprising an electroconductive rod detachably mounted on the stem to extend transversely thereof across the open end of said opening at said rear surface of the housing, resilient means biasing the contact carrier in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact against said rear surface of the housing, said contact carrier being selectively mountable in either of two positions which are spaced angularly by 180 and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contacts, and cooperating interfering parts on said contact carrier and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of the contact carrier about said axis relative to the housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact carrier is mounted in a first one of said two positions, the contact carrier is rotatable about said axis from said first position in either of two opposite directions to spaced circuit making positions wherein the movable contact engages a pair of fixed contacts, and when the contact carrier is mounted in the second of said two positions the contact carrier is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, said contact carrier when mounted in one of said two positions being remounted in the other of said two positions by axial depression of said stem against the bias of said resilient means followed by rotation of the stem through an angle of 180 without disassembly of said stem and said movable contact from said housing.

13. In a rotary selector switch, an insulating housing having an opening extending therethrough between a front side of the housing and a rear surface of the housing, said rear surface facing away from said front side, a plurality of fixed contacts mounted on the rear surface of said housing, a contact carrier rotatably mounted on the housing for rotation about the axis of said open:

ing and including a stern extending through said opening beyond said rear surface of said housing, an actuating member detachably mounted on the stem at the front side of said housing, a movable contact comprising an electroconductive rod detachably mounted on the stem to extend transversely thereof across the open end of said opening at said rear surface of the housing, resilient means biasing the contact carrier in an axial direction towards said front side to urge the movable contact against said rear surface of the housing, said contact carrier being selectively mountable in either of two positions which are spaced angularly by 180 and in each of which the movable contact is spaced from the fixed contacts, cooperating interfering parts on said contact carrier and on said housing effective when engaged to prevent rotation of the contact carrier about said axis relative to the housing in one direction, said interfering parts being disposed such that when the contact carrier is mounted in a first one of said two positions the contact carrier is rotatable about said axis from said first position in either of two opposite directions to spaced circuit making positions wherein the movable contact engages a pair of fixed contacts, and when the contact carrier is mounted in the second of said two positions, the contact carrier is prevented from rotation about said axis in said one direction from said second position by engagement of said interfering parts, cam means on said rear surface of the housing engageable by the movable contact to compress the resilient means during rotation of the movable contact from any one circuit controlling position to the adjacent circuit controlling position, and to permit expansion of the resilient means as the movable contact ap proaches the adjacent circuit controlling position, each of said fixed contacts including a deflectable part engageable by said movable contact, and a legend plate detachably mounted on said housing at the front side thereof, said actuating member being mounted for rotation by said legend plate, said contact carrier when mounted in one of said two positions being remounted in the other of said two positions by axial depression of said stem against the bias of said resilient means followed by rotation of said stem to an angle of 180 without disassembly of the stem and the movable contact from the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,622,707 3/27 Douglas 200l1 X 1,919,208 7/33 Douglas 2004 X 2,143,650 1/39 Douglas 200166 2,276,786 3/42 Lindae 200-166 X 2,650,958 9/53 Jacobi 200-6 2,695,932 11/54 Jacobi 20011 3,019,323 1/62 Daniels 200 3,024,334 3/62 Rhodes 200166 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 

10. IN A ROTARY SELECTOR SWITCH, AN INSULATING HOUSING HAVING A FRONT SIDE AND HAVING A REAR SURFACE FACING AWAY FROM SAID FRONT SIDE, A PLURALITY OF FIXED CONTACTS MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING AT THE REAR SURFACE THEREOF, A MOVABLE CONTACT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING FOR ROTATION FROM SAID FRONT SIDE ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID REAR SURFACE, SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A MOVABLE CONTACT OVERLYING THE REAR SURFACE OF THE HOUSING FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID FIXED CONTACTS, AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY BEING SELECTIVELY MOUNTABLE ON SAID HOUSING IN EITHER OF TWO POSITIONS WHICH ARE SPACED ANGULARLY ABOUT SAID AXIS AND IN EACH OF WHICH THE MOVABLE CONTACT IS SPACED FROM SAID FIXED CONTACTS, COOPERATING INTERFERING PARTS ON SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY AND ON SAID HOUSING EFFECTIVE WHEN ENGAGED TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY ABOUT SAID AXIS RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING IN ONE DIRECTION, SAID INTERFERING PARTS BEING DISPOSED SUCH THAT WHEN THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED IN A FIRST ONE OF SAID TWO POSITIONS, THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY IS ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS FROM SAID FIRST POSITION IN SAID ONE DIRECTION TO A CIRCUIT CONTROLLING POSITION ANGULARLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST POSITION, AND WHEN SAID CONTACT ASSEMBLY IS MOUNTED IN THE SECOND ONE OF SAID TWO POSITIONS, THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY IS PREVENTED FROM ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS IN SAID ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID SECOND POSITION BY ENGAGEMENT OF SAID INTERFERRING PARTS, AND RESILIENT MEANS BIASING THE CONTACT ASSEMBLY IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION TOWARDS SAID FRONT SIDE TO URGE THE MOVABLE CONTACT INTO FIRM CONTACT WITH THE FIXED CONTACTS WHEN THE CONTACTS ARE ENGAGED. 